A new era in ASU wrestling begins Sunday when the Sun Devils travel to the second annual Missouri Open to begin their 2001-2002 season under new head coach Thom Ortiz.
With two All-Americans, senior David Douglas and junior Eric Larkin, and six NCAA qualifiers returning from last year's squad that placed ninth at the NCAA Championships, Ortiz has an experienced group of wrestlers. The group is ready to defend its Pac-10 crown and aim for a top-five finish at the NCAA Nationals in March.
"Our goal is to break into the top five, which is going to require a lot of hard work," Ortiz said. "It's going to be difficult because of the outstanding teams returning this year. However, the people we have in our program right now are surely capable."
ASU will have the opportunity to crack the top-five barrier with meets against some of the nation's top teams. Nebraska, Iowa State, Oregon State and Oklahoma all battle ASU this season. The Sun Devils will also be tested in the Las Vegas Invitational, the Reno Tournament of Champions and the National Duals.
Ortiz was a three-time All-American at ASU and a member of the 1988 national championship team. He now wants to create a program that annually contends for a national crown, the way ASU did in the late 1980s. After nine years as an assistant at Iowa State, Ortiz brings a familiar philosophy back to Tempe.
"My main goal is to make conditioning a factor," Ortiz said. "The 1988, '89 and '90 ASU teams were known for their conditioning. I want the fitness of this Sun Devil team, and future teams, to be just as recognizable."
ASU enters the season ranked first in the Pac-10 Preseason Poll with Douglas, Larkin, Rocky Smart, Kellen Fluckiger and Hector Torres rated as the top wrestlers in their respective weight divisions.
Reach Chris Gabel at asuwriter@thesundevils.com.
